Electromagnetic device



y 7, 1929. Q P. K. M GALL 7 1,711,646

ELECTROMAGNETTC DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l mum/0r: Ph/{o K Mid/l May 7, 1929. P. K. MGGALL 1,711,646

ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 7, 1929.

Ulll'l'lElD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP K. MGGALL, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

YORK.

Application filed November 6, 1923.

relativel shortintervals of time as for instance, in certain telephone or telegraph systems for operating alarm signals and the like.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of the character above referred to in which contacts of an alarm circuit are controlled in an accurate and simple manner.

One feature is the provision of a device whereby after the original energization of the solenoid a plunger is adapted to operate auxiliary contacts to alternately energize and deenergize the solenoid so that a reciprocating movement of the plunger is produced.

Another feature is the provision of a device operated by the reciprocating movement of the plunger for closing an alarm circuit a predetermined time interval after the initiation of the reciprocating movement then discontinue the reciprocating movement and open the alarm circuit and repeat the above operations as long as the original energizing circuit for the solenoid is closed.

Other features and advantages will appear from the following description and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fi 1 is a plan assembly view of the device. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof with a portion. of the supporting frame partially cut away so as to show the operating mechanism more clearly. Fig. 3 is a partial view of 2 showing the plunger and the contact springs controlling the operation of the magnet in operated position. Fig. l is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 but showing the plunger in retracted posi tion. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the contact springs shown when their associated operating member reaches the position shown in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a plan assembly vi w of a modified form of the relay shown in Fig. 1. F ig. 7 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 77 of Fig. 6, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 8 is a partial view of Fig. 7 showing the plunger in operated position. Fig. 9 is another modification of the relay shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a partial view of Fig. 9 showing the plunger in operated position, and Fig. 11 is a detail view oft-he contact spring showing the condition of the contacts when their associated CORPORATION OF NEW ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE.

Serial N0. 673,091.

operating member is in the position indicated in Fig. 9.

The device shown in F ig. 1 comprises a solenoid 21, a. plunger 22, a retarding mechanism therefor and contact devices controlled by the plunger and the retarding mechanism wher by an alarm circuit is established under certain operating conditions of the relay as will hereinafter appear. The solenoid 21 is secured to a U-shaped frame 20. The plunger 22 which is of electromagnetic material, has a flattened end portion 17 disposed tangentially to a sleeve 23 also of electromagnetic material. The plunger is so arranged in relation to the sleeve that it will be magnetically attracted thereto in response to each energization of solenoid 21. The sleeve 23 is rotatably mounted on pivots 2a and 25 secured in the two opposite side portions of the frame 9 On one end of sleeve 23, there is secured a star wheel 26. Associated with the wheel 26 is a governor mechanism comprising an anchor 27 and a pendulum 28 which are adapted to cooperate with the star wheel 26 to retard the movement of plunger 22. The anchor 27 and the pendulum 28 are secured on shaft 29 which has each end journalled in a side portion of frame 20.

The sleeve 23 is provided with a toothed. portion 30 that may be .operatively engaged by a toothed disc 31, which is secured to a rotatable sha ft 19 journalled on the arms of an oscillating yoke 32. The yoke 32 is arranged on a shaft 34 join-nailed on lugs 11, extending from the two side portions of frame 20. The shaft 19 carries an arm 35 having an insulating piece 87 adapted to engage the cam portions 39 and 40 of springs 36 and 38. Spr ng 36 and a contact of spring normally engaged therewith are included in the operating circuit for solenoid 21, while spring 38 and a contact 18 normally out of engagement ther with are for the purpose of controlling an alarm signaling device (not shown). A retracting spring 56, attached at one end to a pin 57 on sha t 3%. and at the other end to a hook 58 on shaft 19, is adapted to hold the arm 35 in normal position against a stop Plunger 22 carries a pin 41 which extends laterally therefrom in operable relation to the arms 42 and 48 of a pivotally arranged yoke 4A. This yoke carries a contact spring 45 adapted to engage a stationary contact spring 46 which is insulatedly mounted on an extension of the frame 20. Integrally formed with contact spring 45 and extending laterally therefrom is a pin 47 in position to engage a cam or hump 48 formed on a spring 49 also mounted on an extension offrame 20. This arrangement is for the purpose of holding the contact spring 45 out of or in contact with contact spring 46 as determined by the movement of plunger 22.

A retracting spring 50 attached at one end to the plunger 22 and at the other end to a bracket 52, is provided for returning the plunger 22 to normal position after deenergization. This spring 50 also serves through intermediation of plunger 22 to hold the toothed wheel 31 out of engagement with the pinion against the normal tension of a coiled spring 33 which has one end hooked on a portion of the frame 20 and the Other end on the yoke shaft 34.

The operation of this device will now be described. It should be kept in mind that one of the purposes of this arrangement is to close, for a short interval, the alarm circuit a certain period after the circuit for the solenoid has been closed and to repeatedly close said alarm circuit at stated intervals provided the circuit for the solenoid is closed a comparatively long time. Assuming now that the switch 62 is closed for at least the necessary period to close the contacts of springs 38 and 18, the following sequence of operations will take place. Referring to Fig. 1 the energizing circuit for solenoid 21 may be traced from battery, contacts of springs 55 and 36, conductor 60, contacts 46 and 45, conductor 61, switch 62, conductor 63, solenoid 21 to ground. Solenoid 21 in energizing operates on the plunger 22 to cause it to be moved into the coil and to be simultaneously attracted to the sleeve 23, which forms part of the path for the magnetic flux, built up by the energization. The sleeve 23 is therefore rotated by the longitudinal movement of plunger 22 and the governor mechanism is thus coupled to the plunger to control the movement thereof. The plunger 22, which normally engages shaft 19 to hold the toothed wheel 31 out of engagement withsleeve 23, will by the movement towards the solenoid release the toothed wheel 31 which is thereby brought into operable relation to the toothed portion of sleeve 23 by means of spring 33. The toothed wheel 31 is thus rotated with the sleeve 23 to move arm 35 towards the contacts 36 and 38 as shown in Fig. 3. Just before the plunger 22 arrives at the end of its travel the pin 41 engages the arm 43 and the yoke 44 to cause the contact 45 to be moved out of engagement with contact 46, as shown in Fig. 3 thereby opening the energizing circuit for the solenoid.

The plunger 22 is now returned toward normal position by the tension of spring 50 energizing circuit of the solenoid is again closed at contacts 45 and 46. The before mentioned operations are then repeated. It

should be noted that the relation of the plunger 22 to the shaft 19 is such, that it will not at this time engage the shaft and therefore not disturb the advanced position of the toothed wheel 31 and arm 35. The plunger 22 will therefore be repeatedly attracted and released until the toothed wheel 31 has been sufficiently advanced to cause the arm 35 to engage cam surfaces 39 and 40 and open the contacts of springs 36 and 55 and close the contacts of springs 38 and 18. The opening of contacts 36 and 55 will now, therefore, break the energizing circuit for the solenoid and the plunger will be permitted to return completely to normal position, at which time, the toothed wheel 31 and arm 35 will be released by the engagement of the end of the plunger 22 with shaft 19. The contacts of springs 18 and 38 will, of course, remain closed until this time and operate an alarm signal that may be connected thereto.

[f the switch 62 had been opened before the oscillatory movement of the plunger had advanced. the arm 35 to close the alarm circuit the wheel 31 would have returned to normal and no signal would have been sent, whereas in case the switch 62 had remained closed for a considerable time, the relay would have operated to close the alarm circuit a number of times at predetermined intervals depending, of course, on the time it takes the wheel 31 to be advanced to close the contacts of springs 38 and 18. The interval of time bet-ween the closing of switch 62 and the closing of the alarm circuit may be varied by changing the proportions of the operating parts and the relations of the same to each other.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show the invention as applied to a relay in which the alarm circuit is closed a predetermined time after each energization of the solenoid by a member 37 attached directly to the plunger 22. This member 37 is so located on the plunger 22 that the contacts of springs 38 and 18 are closed when the plunger is fully attracted as shown in Fig. 8. The movement of the plunger is retarded by means of governor mechanism that is directly attached to the sleeve 23 which is r0- tated by the movement of the plunger attracted thereto at the energization of the solenoid. At the deenergization of the solenoid the governor mechanism is released and the alarm circuit opened by the return of the plunger to normal under tension of spring 50.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show the invention applied to a device in which the alarm circuit is closed immediately upon the energization of the solenoid and attraction of the plunger and held closed for a predetermined time interval after the energization by theslow re- Ill] turn of the plunger 22 under control of the governor mechanism. This is accomplished by the provision of the member attached directly to the plunger and engaging in normal position the contact springs and 71 which are so shaped that when the member moves contacts are made between springs 71 and 73 and between 70 and 72, respectively. When the plunger is attracted into the solenoid it is also moved sideways suiiiciently to free the rack 67 from pinion 68. This is accomplished by a roller 75 oil? magnetic material provided at the opposite side of the plunger which at the energization oil the solenoid attracts the plunger. At the deenergization oi the solenoid the plunger is released from roller 75 and pulled back into engagement with pinion 68 by spring 50 which also tends to pull it back to normal position. The movement to normal position is thereby retarded as the pinion 68 is a tached to the star wheel at the governor mechanism as shown an vrm 35 will, therefore, not open the alarm circuit until after a certain time interval. The governor mechanism consists of the usual toothed wheel 96 and anchor 27, the anchor 2'? being in this instance attached to counterweight or balance wheel 28.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic device COHIPIlSlD a solenoid, a plunger movable in response to the energization of said solenoid, a rotatable shaft to which said plunger is attracted when the solenoid isenergized, and mechanical means carried by said shaft for retarding the movement of said plunger.

2. A time measuring device comprising a solenoid, a plunger movable longitudinally by the energizat-ion of said solenoid, contact devices operable through the movement of said plunger, speed controlling device normally disengaged from said plunger, and a rotatable member for operatively engaging said controlling device with said plunger when said solenoid is energized for operating said contact devices alter a predetermined period of time.

3. In a time measuring relay, a solenoid, operable contact devices in an operating circuit of said solenoid, a longitudinally movable plunger responsive to the energizaion or said solenoid, a speed governor associated with said plunger, a rotatable member brought in operative relation with said speed governor through the movement o'l said plunger when said solenoid is energized, and

means carried by said member for engaging said contacts after a predetermined period of time.

l. A time measuring relay comprising a solenoid, a plunger, contact springs in a circuit of said solenoid and operable through the movement of said plunger, a retarding device normally disengaged from said plunger, and a rotatable member for operatively engaging said plunger with said device when said solenoid is energized for operating said contact springs alter a predetermined interval of time.

5. A time measuring relay comprising a solenoid, contact springs, a reciprocating plun 'er adapted to move in one direction at the energization of said solenoid and in the opposite direction at the dcenergization oi said solenoid, means for operating said contact springs after each working stroke oi said plunger to cause the deenergizat-ion of said solenoid and for operating said contact springs after each idle stroke of said plun er to cause the energlzation of said oid, other contact sprin s, a retarding deuce for said plunger, a wneel. placed in operable relation w ch said device at the first working stroke of said plunger, and means carried by said wheel for operating said other contact sprin 's upon the completion of a plurality of reciprocatin movements of said plunger.

6. A time measuring device comprising a solenoid, contacts in an operating circuit of said solenoid, an independent second set of contacts normally open, a plunger for said solenoid, means for operating certain of the contacts in the energizing circuit to cause the alternate attraction and release of said plunger, means normally disengaged from said plunger and brought into engagement therewith upon the energization of said solenoid for retarding the movement oi the plunger towards its attracted position,

and means operated by the attraction of the plunger for opera other contacts in the energizing circuit to p rmanently open said energizing circuit after a predetermined number of reciprocating movements of the plunger and to temporarily close said independent second set of contacts at the termination of the reciprocating movements of the plunger.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5 day of November A. 1)., 1923.

PHILIP K. MoGALL. 

